Quote :

"Unless this is more powerful than the current consoles, and it doesn't look like it will be, how is it going to compete?"

It's already been reported that it is much more powerful than 360/PS3. However, being the first console to launch means it will be outstripped by the the next entry from Sony and Microsoft.

6/7/2011 3:45:50 PM

It is projected that the PS3 and 360 will have 10-year lifespans. It makes sense; the Kinect was only released around a year ago along with the Move. Why move on to a new system after making that investment? (even when the PS3 and 360 came out, I thought it was "too soon" then.) In any case, the Wii was by all intents and purposes obsolete out of the box. By the time the Wii U comes out, the Wii will be 6 years old (which is about what the lifespan was for older systems.) By the time the successors to the 360 and PS3 come out in 2015/2016, the Wii U will be around 3 or 4 years old. If Nintendo continue to follows the 5-year pattern they've had in motion for the past 25 years (NES- 1985 SNES- 1990 N64- 1996 GC- 2001 Wii- 2006), the successor to the Wii U will come out shortly thereafter. Honestly, I don't even think you can call the Wii U a "next-gen" system. To me, it just looks like the update the Wii has so desperately needed and from the trailers it doesn't seem to have any better graphical capability than the competition.

6/7/2011 3:53:28 PM

Quote :

"It's already been reported that it is much more powerful than 360/PS3."

citation needed.

6/7/2011 3:54:56 PM

Reggie said it.
Also, only one controller comes in the console box
but i bet you will be able to buy more controllers

what was the last system to ship with 2 controllers? super nintendo?

6/7/2011 4:14:23 PM

iop2

6/7/2011 4:17:47 PM

I really like this new system because it has a lot of potential for variety within gameplay. It's easy to shit on the new console because it's not as revoluntary as when the Wii first came out, and Sony and Microsoft scrambled to redesign their consoles. It's an interesting adaptation that takes into account the reality of Nintendo players. Many players are children, and parents will watch what they want when they want to, and with this system, the gaming doesn't have to stop. I probably won't buy it immediately, but I will buy the system to play the new gameplay within Zelda and Mario. Nintendo understands its market, and has made a huge stride to adapt to players needs, regardless of age. They are slowly creeping towards Virtual Reality console systems, and I bet Nintendo will be the first, as always, to take the first stab.

[Edited on June 7, 2011 at 4:20 PM. Reason : -]

6/7/2011 4:17:54 PM

The statement on that weblink made it sound like a single super controller would be used with up to 4 wiimotes. Sounded like a 1-per deal to me, but nothing was officially listed.

They have definitely said that Wii-U will be more powerful than PS3/XBox360, though there is no guarantee until the exact specs are released.

As per the Sony and MS, rumors are around that they may be actually targeting 2013/2014 for their new offering. The new peripherals won't hold them back since they were probably developed so that it could be included in the next gen as well. I really wouldn't be surprised to see many of the Kinect features built into the next system (I'm almost thinking its a given).

As per the Wii being "obsolete" out of box, I'd disagree. I'd say it was current tech, while MS and Sony pushed for cutting edge with huge pricetag while still losing out. I'd argue more "outgunned". The plan worked out well for MS, but I honestly think it was a mistake for Sony who has been playing catchup this entire gen.

I'm interested to see where the Wii-U goes, but I'm not sold yet.

[Edited on June 7, 2011 at 4:24 PM. Reason : ]

6/7/2011 4:23:40 PM

RE: the Wii U being more powerful than Xbox 360 or PS3, it doesn't sound like anyone's saying anything definitive about it.

http://thisismynext.com/2011/06/07/nintendo-wii-u-games-xbox-360-ps3-fak/

Quote :

"In a bizarre twist to an otherwise exciting news day, during an interview today just following Nintendo’s showing of its new Wii U system and games, company honcho Reggie Fils-Amie told GameTrailers that the sizzle reel of games shown today were not actually from the Wii U. Instead, when asked if they were from PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Reggie replied “Absolutely, because we’re talking a year away from when the console will launch.” It’s a little odd that Nintendo wouldn’t have any actual gameplay from the system to show off, but it’s even more disconcerting that the company simply substituted other platforms to demonstrate what the console was capable of. Furthermore, when asked if the system will be “as good” as Microsoft and Sony’s products, Reggie replied that they would… but then tried to refocus the conversation on the fact that the new Wii is finally a 1080p product. "

6/7/2011 5:02:54 PM

gg Nintendo

6/7/2011 5:10:13 PM

having flashbacks to my sega nomad. heh.

6/7/2011 5:43:32 PM

This looks dumb as hell, but that's what I said about the Wii in the first place too.

6/7/2011 7:25:12 PM

This looks dumb as hell, but that's what I said about the Wii in the first place too and I was completely right about it.

6/7/2011 7:35:40 PM

Quote :

"Instead, when asked if they were from PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Reggie replied “Absolutely, because we’re talking a year away from when the console will launch.”"

WTF? That's like Toyota trying to show off dyno charts for a Dodge Viper during an announcement for a new Camry. How were these guys not laughed off the stage?

6/7/2011 7:42:36 PM

I don't know if I believe that or not.
I think the footage was from a prototype WiiU, but with specs very similar to the ps3/360 version...

Also, Nintendo did say they would have the WiiU at the expo and have playable games with it as well. So did they?

6/7/2011 7:49:01 PM

i just watched the ign zelda demo video on the wii u and the game looked just as good on the controller as it did on the tv... i'm stoked about that feature

6/7/2011 9:16:06 PM

Some of the possibilities of the new controller.

6/7/2011 10:31:06 PM

Ah, Wii-U

killer tofu?

6/7/2011 10:45:18 PM

Just like the Wii, Sony and M$ are just a software update and peripheral away from exploiting Nintendo's innovation.

In fact, that shit could probably be available from M$ and Sony by the time the Wii U launches.

I've been saying all day ... with iOS 5's OTA capabilities expanding this Fall, Sony or M$ could easily come to an agreement with Apple to link their console with the iPad. Boom, instant Wii U.

[Edited on June 7, 2011 at 11:55 PM. Reason : ]

6/7/2011 11:54:52 PM

Quote :

"Sony or M$ could easily come to an agreement with Apple to link their console with the iPad. Boom, instant Wii U."

I can tell you, almost without a shadow of a doubt, that will never happen.

Could it happen with a Sony-made tablet? Maybe. A Windows 8/XBox 360 link-up? They're already planning it with WP7, so yeah. But it definitely won't be the iPad.

6/8/2011 12:14:57 AM

OK, so link the respective console with a tablet of some sort.

6/8/2011 12:19:09 AM

Come to think of it, there's already interaction between the PSP and PS3, and like I said, earlier this year MS was hyping WP7/360 compatibility.

6/8/2011 12:42:57 AM

looks like yet another console system I won't be touching...

6/8/2011 12:51:49 AM

Oh and about only one new controller per console, looks like that's unfounded currently:
http://kotaku.com/5809706/nintendo-looking-into-games-that-support-two-new-controllers

6/8/2011 11:01:44 AM

Okay, I think I've warmed up to the idea of the Wii U now. I'm still having difficulties with the controller. I am glad that it actually IS a controller this time, and not some shitty remote.

It's about goddamn time they amped up the graphics. In my opinion, graphics are what killed the Wii. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a graphics whore. I've never given a shit about graphics as much as I have the gameplay. As long as the game is fun, I don't care how shitty it looks. But the game library for the Wii is the fucking worst I have ever seen for a legitimate console (and by legitimate console, I mean something that wasn't a piece of shit out of the box, like the Jag or 3DO or 32X). I can't help but think it was because of how underpowered the fucking thing is. The games looked like shit you'd see on a PS2 in 2006, and the advancements the 360/PS3 have made only serve to make the games look even shittier. Maybe that's why there's so many goddamn PS2 ports.

But to get to the point, the games are shit because nobody wants to develop anything for something so underpowered. The only company committed to the system is Nintendo itself, and even they are fucking up in my opinion. To me, Twilight Princess was clearly rushed in order to get out in time for the Wii's launch; the entire second half of the game felt sloppy as shit and the entire game as a whole tried WAY too hard to ride OOT's coattails. The swinging motion for the sword just felt shitty and tacked on, and the game wasn't what it could have been in my eyes. In my opinion, Other M is forever a black mark on the Metroid series due to how shitty it is. I know Team Ninja actually developed it, but the fact that Nintendo allowed one of it's most treasured franchises to be ruined in such a despicable manner is just.....shameful. That's not to say they haven't made some great shit, however; the two Mario Galaxy games are amazing and Brawl is a damn good game as well. But that's the problem; that's ALL the system has got going for it.

Now that we have a successor on the line with bitchin' graphical capabalities, maybe this trend can be reversed and the innovation that was promised with the Wii can finally be fully realized now that third parties will actually have something worth a fuck to develop for. Wait a minute; Microsoft and Sony have already tried adding motion control to their systems, yet they are the most powerful systems out there and nobody has really developed anything cool with it. Well fuck it then. I guess in the end, now that Nintendo has a powerful system in the pipeline, people will actually want to develop fun games for it and the library won't be so goddamn stagnant.

6/8/2011 2:07:40 PM

^I agree completely with everything said there.

It will be hard for Nintendo to win back the "hardcore" gamers.. Even if Nintendo offers the same games at the same graphics level as the other systems, will that persuade customers to buy the new console?

I have a lot of buddies that went out and bought a wii shortly after its debut b/c of its novelty and the fun games....However, when that novelty wore off, there weren't a lot of games to choose from.
Just go to the store and look at the covers of the games on the shelf...
I finally broke down and bought a PS3 as well and the last time I turned on the wii was when metroid other m came out and i hated it as well

6/8/2011 3:10:59 PM

Looks like I'll be buying this when the next version of MarioKart comes out

6/8/2011 3:25:39 PM

Nintendo stock plummeted after yesterday's announcement.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/06/08/technology-technology-hardware-amp-equipment-as-japan-nintendo_8505799.html

6/8/2011 4:18:49 PM

http://kotaku.com/5810010/three-amazing-things-youll-do-with-aliens-colonial-marines-on-the-wii-u

Quote :

"The device will, at times, become the game's motion tracker, a device in the fiction of the Alien universe that can track the location of enemies and friendlies by their motion. Pitchford explained that players may be asked to sweep their controller around them, looking for approaching enemies, which will show up as blips on the display of the controller."

SOLD

6/8/2011 4:47:49 PM

I bet this thing will be in the $300-400 range at launch.

6/8/2011 9:02:32 PM

Quote :

"It will be hard for Nintendo to win back the "hardcore" gamers.. Even if Nintendo offers the same games at the same graphics level as the other systems, will that persuade customers to buy the new console? I have a lot of buddies that went out and bought a wii shortly after its debut b/c of its novelty and the fun games....However, when that novelty wore off, there weren't a lot of games to choose from. Just go to the store and look at the covers of the games on the shelf... I finally broke down and bought a PS3 as well and the last time I turned on the wii was when metroid other m came out and i hated it as well"

yeah this was some of the dumbest shit nintendo has done and that says a lot, when the wii came out there were plenty of hardcore gamers suddenly looking back at nintendo and if you want proof look at that garbage red steel game selling like 5 million copies, then they wait til 2010 to actually release the type of games they should have done right away and most of them were pretty much sales disapointments despite some really good games

6/8/2011 9:17:51 PM

This is encouraging... sort of.

Quote :

"Surprisingly, Nintendo wasn't the one to answer the question that's been at the forefront of our minds since John Riccitiello talked up the Wii U's online capabilities: Ubisoft recently told MTV Multiplayer that the system will get rid of the maligned Friend Codes system in favor of a single online identity (think: Gamertag). Players will also be able to build friends lists without the laborious process of swapping serial numbers. The publisher reiterated the system's new, streamlined online network during a Nintendo developer roundtable, explaining that the studio is aiming for the Wii U to be Ghost Recon Online's backbone. The title will apparently play host to leaderboards, parties and a live activity feed of your Wii U friends which appears on the WiiPad. We'll press Nintendo for more info! Update: From what we're hearing from Nintendo's developer roundtable, Ubisoft isn't absolutely certain if the Ghost Recon Online features they mentioned will actually make it into the game -- they're just features they'd like to see implemented. As far as the Wii U's unified online functionality, they wouldn't give any details at the developer roundtable. "

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/farewell-friend-codes-wii-u-to-have-single-gamertag-and-friend/

6/9/2011 9:37:42 AM

Random thought: What's the battery life on that controller anyway? The 3DS only gets 4.5 hours tops.

6/9/2011 2:50:22 PM

Well this all but confirms the one pad per console speculation:

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/wii-u-currently-only-supports-one-wiipad/

6/9/2011 8:40:40 PM

I'm not buying a Wii U for several reasons (this was quoted from a friend of mine on another forum).

Quote :

" 1) You can literally only have 1 "new" remote per console. Everyone else has to use the normal wii controllers. How do you make a hardcore gamer-centric system that only 1 person can use the "futuristic controller." 2) It still doesn't play Blu-ray and to top it off, Nintendo said fuck you DVDs, we don't need you either. 3) Looking at 2 screens while trying to play a game is just stupid. It's not immersive, it's not the future of gaming, it's just unnecessary and distracting. Anyone who thinks this has a chance in hell at hurting the Xbox or even the PS3 should seriously kill themselves because spreading your level of stupidity across the world is detrimental to society. Why in the name of fuck would I want to look at the TV, then look at the controller, then look back at the tv just to make a decision, move, choice, etc. I could honestly expect something this stupid from Microsoft, but Nintendo? Nintendo really has it's dick up it's ass if they think that's going to be successful. 4) The Wii U's name is just fucking terrible. Every time I see this I think You Wee, you pee, Pee university, or some other reference to someone taking a piss. Oh man that's it! That's what the Wii U is doing, it's taking a piss on the gaming community. "

6/20/2011 2:40:50 PM

I think the 1 controller per console is still up in the air... i read an interview on IGN where one of the officials said it wasn't in stone yet...but the reason they originally only planned 1 per console is b/c it was so expensive

and the blu-ray/dvd lack of capability doesn't bother me. who doesn't have a dvd player by now anyway?

[Edited on June 20, 2011 at 3:45 PM. Reason : yea]

6/20/2011 3:44:02 PM

I'm not moving my finger 2 inches to switch to my blu-ray player, dammit! And it has a dumb name!

6/20/2011 3:59:33 PM

Quote :

"i read an interview on IGN where one of the officials said it wasn't in stone yet..."

I read the opposite. There were a couple of articles stating that the development of all their current games was for only 1 controller. I guess that doesn't rule out future games but still, it's pretty lame if they do that.

6/20/2011 4:55:04 PM

6/20/2011 10:55:47 PM

shit, i thought this thread was about

7/1/2011 9:48:33 PM

http://shoryuken.com/2012/01/26/yoshinori-ono-says-the-wii-u-can-do-much-more-than-what-was-shown-at-e3/

Quote :

"In a recent interview with 3DJuegos Yoshinori Ono said that he apparently has some inside info about the Wii U. This translation comes from NeoGAF. "What we saw last E3 is not a reflection of everything this console is able to offer. We have been trying the development kits and some of its new characteristics will improve its possibilities. It isn’t something like Kinect or similar accessories, it’s something different. I can’t tell you more about it because, if I do, Nintendo will send assassins to finish me! (laughs) But let’s say that Wii U will be a console with so many and unique possibilities that it will be difficult to show them in the box they are going to sell it or to be published by magazines and other mediums." Might this mean that we will see some of Ono’s visions for the future of fighting games get published to the Wii "

Smell-O-Vision at last!!!

1/26/2012 4:32:52 PM

Yeah, you just have a real fight with your friends and whoever wins irl wins in the game.

What was the point of that news blurb? Nintendo is awesome, can't say why. I know something you don't know, can't say what. Kinda reads like look at me, I saw it first, jealous much? One could call into question what, if anything the guy actually knows. At least the Windows 8 guy had the decency to come up with a "you can play 360 games on your PC" lie to get attention.

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 8:41 PM. Reason : -]

1/26/2012 8:41:07 PM

More details were announced today:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/13/wii-u-price-release-date-announced

Quote :

"Nintendo's Wii U console will launch November 18 in the United States, with a price of $300 for the white 8GB Basic set and $350 for a black 32GB Deluxe version. "

Details on the Basic set includes:

Quote :

"The Basic set will have 8GB of memory and includes the console, a GamePad, an HDMI cable, a sensor bar and an AC adapter. The basic set will be $299.99 in the United States."

Premium set:

Quote :

"The Deluxe set will have 32GB of internal memory and includes everything in the Basic configuration, plus a GamePad charging cradle, a stand for both GamePads and the console itself, plus a copy of Nintendo Land. The Deluxe set will be $349.99 in the United States."

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/13/nintendo-tvii-announced
It also has a new "NintendoTVii" service:

Quote :

"In the wake of Nintendo's original Wii becoming such a popular device used to stream video services like Netflix, Nintendo has announced a new entertainment initiative for the new Wii U: "Nintendo TVii." Described as a way to "Find, Watch and Engage with TV, Movies and Sports," Nintendo TVii is a wildly cross-integrated entertainment solution that will turn your Wii U GamePad into a "second screen experience" while you watch your favorite content. Miis will be used to mark off personalized favorites for different family members in the same household, while the GamePad will let you control your DVR to record shows, set favorites, tweet your reactions to live moments on TV and more. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video and Tivo will each be integrated. "Bringing all of your services to one place," is how President Reggie Fils-Aime describes Nintendo TVii. Nintendo TVii is included with every Wii U purchase, with no additional fees."

Other stuff announced: New Super Mario Bros Wii U is a launch title, Bayonetta 2 is exclusive, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 has exclusive content,There's a new game game called The Wonderful 101, and COD: Black Ops 2 is coming to the system.

I assume they have a real online framework this time around but they sure as hell didn't announce it.

9/13/2012 11:22:28 AM

I'm kinda skeptical. Hopefully my mind will change when it has been released but it just seems too similar to the Wii to be considered a new console. Maybe it's just because the name is very similar to the Wii and Nintendo has a history of released "upgraded" systems like the DS, DS Slim, DSi, etc. and it is just a psychological thing, but does anyone else feel the same way? Especially from the trailers for that Nintendoland game which just seems like more minigames.

So the deluxe set has a stand for both gamepads, does that mean it comes with two? I figured 1 of those gamepads would be worth more than $50.

For the TV thing, in order to work with your DVR I assume you'd have to somehow plug the Wii into your cable box?

I'm very surprised that Bayonetta 2 is an exclusive considering the first one did very well on the 360 and PS3 and [obviously] wasn't on the Wii.

9/14/2012 8:38:45 AM

I personally think the WiiU concept is hilarious. Have fun with your giant controllers.

9/14/2012 9:08:22 AM

Quote :

"Bayonetta 2 is exclusive"

9/14/2012 9:48:43 AM

the important question is when will MarioKart come out?

9/14/2012 9:55:50 AM

I just feel like this could be the next Virtual Boy

9/14/2012 10:02:27 AM

Quote :

"Maybe it's just because the name is very similar to the Wii and Nintendo has a history of released "upgraded" systems like the DS, DS Slim, DSi, etc. and it is just a psychological thing, but does anyone else feel the same way?"

Apples and oranges thing. Nintendo releases upgraded versions of portable systems, but generally their home systems have the same features throughout their lifespans. They could release an improved screen for the Gamepad, but that's about it.

Quote :

"So the deluxe set has a stand for both gamepads, does that mean it comes with two? I figured 1 of those gamepads would be worth more than $50."

No, IGN worded that sentence poorly. It comes with two stands, one for the Wii U itself and one for the Gamepad.

I'm still skeptical myself. New Super Mario Bros. Wii U is the only game I want to play, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the 3DS was a huge disappointment. I guess the days of Nintendo launching a system with a AAA title are over.

9/14/2012 10:18:54 AM

Quote :

"I just feel like this could be the next Virtual Boy"

DING DING DING DING DING

9/14/2012 10:24:37 AM

If anything it'll be another Gamecube or N64. There's no way it'll be like the Virtual Boy.

9/14/2012 11:37:30 AM